Kalamazoo Mennonite Church (1960-1979)(Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA)
The Kalamazoo Mennonite Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, began among Mennonite families who lived in Kalamazoo and men performing their I-W alternative service in one of Kalamazoo's hospitals. Kalamazoo became a location for I-W service in 1953. Before 1960, these Mennonites commuted to the Moorepark Mennonite Church in Three Rivers or attended a congregation of another denomination. In 1959, Etril J. Leinbach, the Moorepark pastor, looked for a place in Kalamazoo where these people could worship.
Etril Leinbach provided early leadership for the group. The first services were held on 3 January 1960 in the Milwood School. The group organized and became part of the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference of the Mennonite Church (MC).
The group purchased a former school building and subsequent Baptist chapel on Douglas Avenue that it dedicated on 28 April 1963.
The church closed in 1979. The building was converted to a private residence.
Bibliography
"I-W's help found church." Gospel Herald 56, no. 20 (21 May 1963): 441.
"Mennonite church services...." Gospel Herald 53, no. 3 (19 January 1960): 64.
Leinbach, Etril. "I-W's at work in the Kalamazoo Church." Gospel Herald 54, no. 46 (21 November 1961): 1025.
_____. "Kalamazoo Mennonite Church." Gospel Herald 53, no. 18 (3 May 1960): 406.
Preheim, Rich. In Pursuit of Faithfulness: Conviction, Conflict, and Compromise in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2016: 310.
Additional Information
Address: 3425 Douglas Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007
Telephone:
Website:
Denominational Affiliations:
Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference
Pastoral Leaders at Kalamazoo Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Etril J. Leinbach (1910-2006)(Bishop) | 1960 |
| Harold Yoder | 1961-1962 |
| Miller F. Stayrook (1929-2020) | 1962-1964 |
| Glen A. Horner | 1965-1975 |
| Lay Leadership | 1975-1979 |
Kalamazoo Mennonite Church Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1965 | 4 |
| 1970 | 13 |
| 1979 | 21 |
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | June 2024 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "Kalamazoo Mennonite Church (1960-1979)(Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. June 2024. Web. 23 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Kalamazoo_Mennonite_Church_(1960-1979)(Kalamazoo,_Michigan,_USA)&oldid=179138.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (June 2024). Kalamazoo Mennonite Church (1960-1979)(Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 23 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Kalamazoo_Mennonite_Church_(1960-1979)(Kalamazoo,_Michigan,_USA)&oldid=179138.
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